Schools track and trace: The workload is "intense and overwhelming"
Unions say school leaders need more help with contact tracing
Last updated 1st Sep 2021
Teachers Unions have raised serious concerns about school leaders being “overwhelmed'' with the requirements of contact tracing.
Representatives have claimed the task was diverting them from their core duties within the school community.
Officials have called on the Department of Education and the Public Health Agency to deploy dedicated contact tracing staff to each school to reduce the burden on principals.
Dr Graham Gault from the National Association of Head Teachers said the issue needs to be addressed urgently.
He said: “The context we’re in now, the scale of transmission and the sheer scale of contact tracing required by each individual school leader across this country is just enormous.
“But the issue of contact tracing in this sphere of life where we have probably the greatest risk of transmission with so many children, 86,000 across our school estate, the issue of contact tracing has simply been left to school leaders.
“The issue of contact tracing, which is all encompassing now for the vast majority of our principals if not all is something that needs to be addressed by Government.
“For example, I was speaking to a principal who has spent every day since the 19th of August dealing only with Covid issues.
“Has not yet been able to run child protection refresher training for his staff.
“Has not yet been able to meet with staff to discuss circular issues, pastural support and safeguarding.
“I’m asking today if the Minister, Government, wider than just the Minister would look at redeploying a work force from across the Education sector to support principals to doing this.”
In a statement the PHA said “The PHA has a dedicated team of healthcare professionals established to support school principals when dealing with confirmed COVID-19 cases.
“This team support is available seven days a week and offers advice and support on the appropriate guidance to follow in relation to contact tracing and procedures for close contacts within the school setting.
“This guidance is a reflection of the policy on close contacts and self-isolation as set out by the Executive Office.
“The Department of Education has set out comprehensive guidelines for schools to follow.
“During busy periods, it may take a little longer than usual for enquiries to be responded to.
“The PHA also assists in any risk assessment to be carried out by the school and provide ongoing support and monitoring where there is more than one case within the school.”
Mr Gault said the request to redeploy staff to schools to deal with track and trace “isn’t really a big ask”.
He added “We’ve got thousands of people who work across the education sector through various departments and agencies.
“We don’t have that many schools it’s quite simple, principals would make a space for a person to come in and manage contact tracing to allow school leaders to do the job they should be doing.
“These people are being distracted from their core duty and it is our children, our teachers and the wider school communities who will suffer.
“The workload is intense and overwhelming, and it needs to be addressed urgently.”
Politicians have also raised serious concerns about school re-start and the guidance issued.
Sinn Féin MLA, Nicola Brogan, has said more clarity and appropriate intervention needs to be provided to schools.
The party’s spokesperson for children and young people said: “An anomaly around children attending school after receiving a positive flow test while they wait for confirmation by a laboratory test requires urgent clarification by the Minister of Education.
“Reports that pregnant members of staff have not been given the option of working from home are also worrying.
“School Principals struggled to administer contact tracing last term but as cases rise within the community, without additional administrative support by the Department, the additional workload could be overwhelming.
“Clearly urgent intervention by the Minister of Education is required to provide clarity and appropriate intervention to support our schools.”
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